Sergio Perez says he’s open to returning to Components 1 in 2026 however will solely achieve this if he feels it’s the precise challenge for him.
Pink Bull opted to finish Perez’s contract two years early over the winter, following a disappointing 2024 season alongside Max Verstappen. The Mexican mentioned he has been sounded out by a number of constructors and RACER understands Cadillac is one crew that has proven an curiosity in his companies when it enters F1 subsequent yr.
“If I discover a challenge that motivates me totally to come back again, the place the crew consider in me and the place they admire my profession, my expertise and every little thing I can deliver to a crew, it will be very enticing to think about it,” Perez informed F1.com. “That’s why I’ve given myself at the least six months to get all my choices on the desk and decide on what I do subsequent with my profession.
“There are just a few very fascinating initiatives on the market. I’ve been approached by just a few groups since Abu Dhabi. Proper now, the season has began so just a few issues will open up within the coming months.
“We’re speaking to some events on the market. As soon as I do know all my choices, I’ll decide. What could be very clear to me is that I’m solely coming again if the challenge is smart, and it’s one thing I can take pleasure in.
“I’ve spent a very long time in F1 already — I’ve completed most of it. When you step again, you notice how a lot you quit in life to be within the sport. So, to be in F1 totally dedicated, I would like the motivation.
“It’s good to be on this place figuring out that persons are eager on you as a driver. Folks have quick recollections in F1. Inside a few races, they overlook what you’ve got completed. Folks notice that my place was not the simplest one in F1 — and I’ve completed extraordinarily properly general.
With Pink Bull making a driver change after simply two races of this season and swapping Perez’s alternative Liam Lawson for Yuki Tsunoda, the 35-year-old says the state of affairs is reminding folks of the troublesome automobile he was coping with in recent times.
“Particularly final yr, I didn’t get to point out what I’m capable of do as a driver. Now, unexpectedly, folks notice how troublesome the automobile is to drive,” he mentioned. “After I joined Pink Bull, there had been nice drivers who had struggled – Alex [Albon], Pierre [Gasly], they’re unbelievable drivers they usually struggled.
“I spent so lengthy in Pink Bull that everybody forgot how troublesome the automobile is to drive, in order that was tough. I really feel like that if there’s a challenge that is smart to me – and in addition with the rules altering for 2026 – I really feel like taking a yr out received’t have any influence if I have been to come back again.”
Though Lawson’s struggles spotlight how robust the state of affairs inside Pink Bull is to deal with, Perez insists he needs to see Tsunoda do properly now he’s making the step up from Racing Bulls.
“I really need the crew to do properly, as I’ve loads of buddies on the crew,” Perez mentioned. “I spent 4 years with them and I need to see them doing properly. It’s only a very laborious factor to speak about. Proper now, I’m on the surface — I’ve been in contact with some crew members there however if you’re not there internally, it’s laborious to know [what’s happening].
“For me, it was quite simple — the automobile is simply fairly troublesome to get 100% out of it, to get the arrogance out of it — and the issues I struggled with, even Adrian [Newey, the team’s former design chief] talked about them. However I need to want them one of the best. Woody [Richard Wood], who is a good buddy of mine, is engineering Yuki now so I actually hope they do properly.
“Yuki has the expertise, has the pace and, greater than that, you want the mentality to deal with it. I believe he has the precise mentality and the precise perspective to deal with it. I hope they’ll succeed.”
